Wheel



C. S. ASH

WHEEL April 9, 1940. Q

2 Shets-$heet 1 Filed Feb. 7, 1938 INVEN TOR CHARLES S. A S H ATTORNEYSApril 9, 1940.

c. s. ASH

WHEEL Filed Feb. 7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CHARLES S. ASH

ATTORNEYS j MAI-9,1

umrao j mammograms-amour mum-m,

penile-Delaware am runny 1. less, Serial mim a China. (cl. su-s'n Thisinvention relates to vehicle wheels and refers more particularly to awheel structure using the large diameter type cover plate or hub cap.

The principal object of the invention is to reduce the weight and thecost of manufacture of vehicle wheels without sacrificing either thestrength or appearance of that wheel.

A further object which contributes materially to reducing the cost ofmanufacture of the vehicle wheel resides in the provision of a metalwheel assembly having the appearance of a wheel in common use in whichthe wheel body'is capable of being fashioned with less drawing, and inwhich the cover plate is fashioned to provide the desired bowed orconvex appearance. a

A still further object of this invention is to provide means upon thewheel body, for positively centering the cover plate, which means may bereadily formed without increased material being required.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novelfeatures of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as ismore fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevational view of half of a wheelstructure, with parts broken away, disclosing a vehicle wheel embodyingmy invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1. I

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to Figure 2showing a modification.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 3 showing an additionalmodification.

Figure 5 is also a fragmentary view similar to Figures 3 and 4 showing afurther modification. Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevational viewof a wheel body portion showing a modification of the peripheral spacedopening type of wheel, and

Figure '7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on line 1-4 ofFigure 6.

5 As illustrated in the present instance, the vehicle wheel comprisesthe wheel body I which is of the demountable bolted on type, and the rimmember 2 which is a tire carrying rim, preferably of the drop centertype. The wheel body has a bolting on portion 3, generally axial portion4,

a radially outwardly extending portion 5, and

bosses 8. The radially outwardly extending portion 5 is formed with aperipheral flange to which the rim member is secured by suitable 56means, such as rivets 1. Cover plate is adapted Detroit, Mlcln, a eartofit on this wheel and is secured in place by 7 spring clips I. r

As can be seen in Fig. 2, the dotted line discloses a common type ofwheel (hereinafter referred to as the "old" wheel) having an annular 5extremely bowed portion extending in an axially outwardly direction. Inorder to make this portion, special deep drawing operations arenecessary. It will be seen that sectional portion 5 of the applicant'sstructure is bowed only a fraction of the amount of this old design. Theresult is a substantial saving in both material and operation. On thisold type wheel, the cover plate terminated in the zone of the axiallyoutermost portion of the dotted line.

The appearance of a highly bowed wheel is maintained in the presentconstruction, how-. ever, by the shape of the cover plate 8. It has asubstantially bowed axially outboard portion l0, and an annular lipportion ll which is substanl0 tially concavo-convex and which has bead20 at its free edge. This lip II, it will'be noted, has substantiallythe same cross sectional contour as the annular extremely bowed portionof the old wheel. Thus, the light gauge cover plate 8 material is usedinstead of the heavy gauge wheel material to get the same appearance ata decided saving in weight of the wheel.

For centering the cover plate, bosses 6 are provided on. the wheel. Theyextend out generally I0 axially at spaced points about the wheel fromportion 5 in a manner to positively center the plate 8, and three orfour bosses are sutlicient.

Spring clips such as 9 are provided for securing. the coverplate. In thepresent construction, the 36 clips are shown as having their radiallyinner I ends l2 fastened by suitable means, such as rivets II, to theoutboard side of the bosses 8. .The body portions H of the clips aresubstantially U-shaped and have base portions l5 extending (0 beyond theoutboard side of the bosses. The radially outermost portions of thebosses are pro-' vided with openings i8 through which the radialoutermost ends ll of the clips extend. The annular head of the coverplate snaps over portions ll of the clips and is yieldably held by theseportions at the radially outermost side of the bosses. Thus, it can beseen that when the cover plate is snapped into engagement on the wheel,the radially outermost portion of the bosses co- 5 operates with theperipheral head on the cover plate to assure a positive centering ofthat plate with relationto the wheel.

With reference to Fig. 3, the modification therein shown differs fromthat shown in Figs. ll

generally axially extending portions I are reeniorced by ribs II whichare in substantial alignment with bosses I. In other respects,thismodiiiedstructureisthesameasthatdisclosed in Figs. 1 and 2.

with reference to Fig. 4, a second modification flisshown. InthisflguresinB'gJJhedotted line shows the contour oi an old type of body portionand especially the axially outwardly channel portion 22, which iseliminated in the new structure. In this modification. the bones 8'' arespaced radially inwardly a greater distance to allow for the peripheralspaced openings 28 on the wheel body portion l".

Fig. 5 is similar to the modification shown in Fig. 3 in that thebolting on flange 8' and the generally axially extending portion 0 arereeniorced by ribs 2l. In this construction the spring clips 9 are shownas having their radially innermost ends fastened by suitable means suchas rivets I to the inboard side of the body por- The body portion of theclip is substantially U-shaped and extends axially inwardly from thebody portion I but has its tree end 2| extending on the outboard side ofthe body portion l through opening It to irictionally engage cover plate8. It will also be noticed ln'this modification that the bosses 6 aremuch less pronounced than those bosses shown and described in previousmodifications.

,IQOJI' .'l and 2 in that'the bolting on flange 0' and the as II iseliminated.

-relatively axially shallow wheel body, a relatively ,to removablyengage said cover plate. said cover plate extending over said bosses andsaid clip means to conceal the same and cooperating with said body topresent the appearance oi a convex axially relatively deep wheel.

CHARLESB.ASH.

